Anyone can make jewelry, you don't have to go to school. For the cleverest designs, you just have to think outside the box!

February 22, 2017

There's a line from the song, "Happy Talk", which is part of the score of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical SOUTH PACIFIC. It goes something like this:

"Happy Talk, keep talkin' happy talk,

Talk about things you'd like to do,

You got to have a dream,

If you don't have a dream...

How you gonna have a dream come true?"

Allison Murray has a dream.

She is the designer of Bordeaux and Pearl Jewelry. It's an artisan line that has a great deal of heart and lots of vintage elements. Much of what is presented can be mixed and matched. The components used are culled from U.S. jewelry making history, parts also employed in many of the golden-age lines made in the Victorian Revival period of the 50's. As you can see, the work is assemblage. It has a hint of the old Miriam Haskell look with a twist of Hattie Carnegie and modern repurpose on the side.

Many, just like Allison, dream of becoming jewelry designers. Often they start out on an incredible high, but it's inevitable, there will be obstacles to overcome. Some will really hit a wall. Hitting that wall too many times can kill a dream.

Why does something so much fun, something they love to do so much, all of a sudden become so difficult for newer jewelry designers?

There are many reasons.

For one, it's common to loose viable opportunities due to not having enough components on hand. It also might be that their work is too much one of a kind, custom work. Their prices might be too high or even too low for the market. There may be a failure to completely identify the target customer. Maybe what is being made is dated work, too fussy, much to be admired but not what customers want to buy. Or, perhaps the craftsmanship is not consistent and the artist is frustrated by having returns caused by issues with skill level, or even components.

Allison is working hard on her dream. Right now she is in that spot where she's learning new techniques and experimenting with many ideas. Each demi-line of jewelry or parure that she makes, shows more thought and more skill than the one before it. She is working hard at presentation, photography, and knowing her target customer well. If she keeps that up, and continues to work hard on her brand through all the glitches, she just may arrive at her destination. Her dream of being a self-supporting artist or a jewelry designer with her own company might just come true.

I felt the same way back in the 90's when as a fluke and maybe a little natural talent, I created a jewelry line quite by chance, and it worked. In a few years we had 500 wholesale accounts and the line was 300 styles deep. Yet, within a decade, it had run its course....as many small lines do.

Why?

I didn't have a good plan. The line didn't change as trends changed, so it lagged behind. I had trouble having enough inventory on hand to ship quickly, and trouble hiring enough competent help. My line was hard to make, so it was hard to train people to make it the same way I did. Eventually, I threw in the towel. I had had enough. I have no regrets because I learned so much for having the experience. Still, I have to be honest: I jumped in madly with no mission, no view of what I wanted of the future, no knowledge of the trade. It's amazing that it worked for me at all, actually!

My friend, Mel Bernie, owns the 1928 Jewelry Company. Back in the late 60's, not long out of the service, he decided his vocation would be to create and sell jewelry to small chains of retail stores. From what he could see, it didn't look like it would be so hard! So, he saved up from his day job of selling watches so that he could buy some basic tools and manufacturing equipment, and then he tried to teach himself to use it in his garage. He had great ideas, but bringing the great ideas out to the public in a sophisticated way was going to take more expertise than he could quickly learn. He really didn't know how to make jewelry.

Since his dream was to go BIG, he needed to surround himself with competent, knowledgeable, highly-trained jewelry makers who could not only help him make his dream come true, but teach him how to make jewelry in the process. Mel was now on a mission and would not quit until he found the right people.

Well, he found them. In a very few years, the company catapulted to huge success, selling their lines to the buyers of every major department store around the world. And....many of the people who are working today at 1928, have been with him for years.

On the right is Pia, who has been designing for 1928 since the very beginning. She has designed many of the 1928 pieces that you have collected and loved. And yes, that guy next to her is Mel. We were out having Thai food. Pia is an expert on Thai food, as she originally comes from Thailand.

Here I am in the factory at 1928 with my friends, Rene, who is the factory manager for many years, and Oscar, who came to 1928 a long time ago after having trained as a goldsmith. He knows well how to cast gold and other precious metals, but he is amazing at spin casting the proprietary blend of pewter that 1928 uses to make their products.

The guys explained to me that the 1928 pewter blend flows exceedingly well and contains a bit of silver. The best lead free pewter blends do! Their expertise as well as this special pewter blend is why 1928 is able to cast intricate filigree like no other company can.

Check this out and you'll see what I mean:

This is a very special vintage piece, a locket, from their castings archive. A few of you may even own one!

Every creative or business journey has its ups and downs....there are always highs and lows! But when many US companies have failed or pulled the plug on their enterprises, Mel Bernie's continues. 1928 is still known as one of the largest costume jewelry makers in the United States. They have not only made their own lines, but they have made jewelry for many other companies as well, under private contract.

There has ALWAYS been a plan at 1928. Since I've become friends with Mel and some of the great folks who work with him day in and day out, I've learned a great deal about working "smarter, not harder" in the jewelry business. Here is Mel meeting with some of his designers, working out a few bugs on a new line for New York Market Week:

I got to be the proverbial 'fly on the wall', listening to them and even having a tiny part in the conversation that day.

The line they were working on did not have lots and lots of pieces. It was pulled together just right, with a certain type of customer in mind. Everything about it was costed out to perfection so that it could be wholesaled to department stores and still allow the company to make a profit.

When they decide to put a piece into a line at 1928 Jewelry Company, the piece is sketched in such a way that every component is obvious. There is NOTHING that is casual about it. Every casting that is needed for the piece is referenced. The designers must come out into the large archive of over 35,000 molds owned by the company, and find the part number for every last piece used in that style. They made need to consult with Rene and Oscar or the mold maker, Herman, to see if the mold just right to do the job and if there is anything impractical about using it in the design. All the other components must also be referenced so that they can be sure they have enough to make hundreds, if not thousands of pieces of the style. If they don't have enough, it must be ordered immediately.

Then: every component is counted, down to the last jump ring. Quality is number one; only the pieces that truly work for the design and that are durable are used. It's been done this way, from day one. Every piece in the style must be referenced, costed, and then, the entire design costed out, including the cost to plate the pewter. It all has to work, or they cannot put it in the line.

Do you approach your design work this way? Yes, I know, it doesn't sound like tons of fun! Who wants to do all that dull planning? But if you do not have your information at hand when you work your dream and design a line, you could make little profit or even lose your shirt! Or, you might be caught short right in the middle of a huge order, where you have a strict deadline.

I said I would never design a line again. I had had the experience and was very glad for it. I was content to share what I learned about having done it with others. For a lark, though, I did it in miniature for my yearly Build a Line business class last year. The initial plan for the line and its sublines made a great deal of sense and everyone loved it. I even seriously considered going ahead with it:

I decided to call the line Sugar Shop Jewelry. I even purchased the online domain for that name and I began to think about creating a dedicated website so that I could sell it. The photo above was when I was in the planning stages of the first part of the line, which was going to be done in segments. This segment was to be called Chocolate Frosting.

Why didn't I refine and simplify the line, cost it out properly and keep going?

Well, my 'day job' is running B'sue Boutiques which is a small jewelry supply company where we sell very unique things and have been doing it online since 1997. It takes most of my day to manage it! Part of managing B'sue Boutiques is providing a great deal of support to new to intermediate jewelry makers who are working hard to work and live their dreams. They need quality findings and they trust me to provide them.

These days you cannot have a supply company without providing strong support. In these days of strong competition and burgeoning social media, it can be quite a juggling act!

Another blow to progress on Sugar Shop Jewelry was that the choxie finish on the brass I was using suddenly became inconsistent. Apparently there have been some changes on what chemicals may be used for plating in the US. A crucial part of the plating 'blend' became unavailable. So, I couldn't get the chocolate ox finish to match, batch to batch. Not good.

Lastly, I was offered another opportunity that I felt was much better for me and for my customers. Mel Bernie asked me if I would consider pewter and have my own proprietary castings made for B'sue Boutiques. I would also be permitted to curate part of the line from their castings archive.....and I would be allowed to put my own designer finishes on them.

Two factors here were extremely unique: first, pieces and parts made for 1928 Jewelry have never been released to the creative marketplace. It was never considered to allow artisans take their specially-designed pewter and use it to make their own jewelry. Second, 1928 would never put my custom finishes on their lines. These finishes are by plan very funky and geared to current trend in the crafts industry. They wouldn't work for most department store buyers.

Since last fall I have been working very hard on this line, which is called B'sue by 1928. The name of this venture includes the 1928 logo because it IS 1928. At the same time, it is my B'sue line, totally B'sue Boutiques, echoing my roots in the vintage jewelry trade and everything I personally love about designing jewelry. I curate the collection based on my knowledge of selling components for parts of three decades. It is a high-end designer line of unique components like no other.

We got our first batch of samples back from the finisher at the end of November:

By the end of December we had nearly 30 styles and were ready to launch. The line has done very well ever since. In fact, it was just on the back inside cover of the current BELLE ARMOIRE magazine:

The editor of the magazine liked it so much, she gave it a full page "Editor's Picks" review:

They said such nice things about B'sue Boutiques and the 1928 Jewelry Company, too!

I am still pinching myself that Mel not only invited me to test the waters with pewter findings this way, but he allowed me to be called, in part, by the 1928 name. He gave permission to use their logo known all around the world, melded with my own, to establish a brand.

The line I created in the 90's was a dream that came true out of nowhere. By all rights, it should never have succeeded at all, because there was no adequate planning. For my B'sue by 1928 components line, the game has changed. All I do is plan!

What's coming down the road for The 1928 Jewelry Company?

Well, I think their catch phrase says it all: Then. Now. Forever.

As the company reaches out to its public through its website, 1928.com more and more people will be able to enjoy new designs as well as the timeless ones they have always loved. When you visit their website, be sure to click on the top drop-down boxes and see how many lines there are.

Each line has that unforgettable 1928 look that we know and love. Everything is well planned and beautifully designed and crafted. Much of the work is done by hand! Nothing has happened by accident. It's classic and will never go out of style.

Well, there are certainly no plans to try to corner the market, not now, anyway. For now there is more need to observe what happens and how people use the components. I need to be thinking of new ways we can use them. It's about enjoying the journey and presenting constantly via our You Tube channel: B'sue Boutiques at You Tube

We hope to partner with other artists who successfully submit to quality craft magazines, or who have a proprietary line that would blend with this one, being ambassadors for each others' lines. We will continue to advertise in print in BELLE ARMOIRE as well as JEWELRY AFFAIRE, both being jewelry crafts magazines produced by the Stampington Publishing Company.

Perhaps down the road we'll will do a little wholesaling, but we are not ready for that or for distribution, now. I don't think we will be, for awhile. I'm still building the line. In a few weeks what we have to offer will more than double. After that, the intention is to add new pieces more slowly, 5-6 at a time, every 6 weeks to two months.

It's all about experimenting, watching and working the line, listening to what community and customers have to say and suggest.

January 01, 2017

Once upon a time there was a wistful young girl who had no idea what she wanted, or any idea who she was. Funny thing about that girl, though: she knew she'd figure it out. Life is full of possibilities, after all.

There's a line from the movie "Arthur" that has always struck me. Arthur (Dudley Moore) was a dilatory, spoiled millionaire who drank too much and had to be waited on head to foot, by his trusty butler. He made aquaintance with a common, lower-class young woman, I can't remember her name now or how he met her, but she was played by Liza Minelli. (1981 version)

Anyway: he was dumbstruck by booze and having never done anything with his life, and she was dumbstruck by the POSSIBILITIES in life.

In one scene they are riding along in his limosine (I think!) and she is looking out the window, into the sky. Eventually Arthur asks her what was so interesting out there. She said:

"When I was young, I thought the moon followed me."

He didn't understand that, of course. It is an odd concept, inebriated or not! But, when I was young, I thought the moon followed me. I understood.

Why or how it followed me, I did not know, at that time in my life, I just thought that it did. Really! it doesn't follow any of us. Neither do possibilities. We have to chase them!

I began to chase my possibilities when as a teenager, I had a passion for fashion design. I loved to draw out my ideas, sew, cut my own patterns, invent my own look. No sewing pattern was safe from me. I would read the directions and toss them away with a maniacal laugh! ....and begin re-contouring them, splitting them, adding pieces, taking pieces away. This was one of my favorite patterns:

Betsey Johnson has always been a favorite. I wish she would make that line again! I could never afford it when I was young, but I buy it now whenever I can. ANYWAY: That basque waist was not good for my chubby little figure, so I re-made the pattern several ways. HA! It always came out looking like a hot mess.

I didn't waste time on the hot messes, and I never took them apart to find out what went wrong. I remained in motion! It was on to the next length of fabric and the latest artsy-fartsy thing I'd seen in Vogue magazine, or Harper's Bazaar. Sometimes, the results of my pattern ripping and re-arranging were genius. I wore those frocks with a swish and a sway, yeah baby, I made this dress, not only did I make it, I designed it. I was on my way to figuring out who I was and what I wanted to do, now!

Never did I dream that one day I'd be pushing beads around on a table, like Madame (Chanel). No, I'm not the head of my own clothing line, but POSSIBILITIES! I did create SEVERAL lines of jewelry. I didn't know a THING about making jewelry. Did that matter? After all... the moon followed me, and so, if I liked it and wanted to do it, I believed I could do it.

I must say, I skipped the cigarette thing. Fortunately I realized quite early that nicotine fumes would do nothing for my creativity. Or, the chronic bronchitis that plagued me for many years.

Long story short, let's fast-forward to 2012:

Here's a possibility that became one of my GREAT EXPECTATIONS. I had such great hope for this darling little candy box of a shop. Some of you got to visit me there!

The more of you that came, the happier I was!

Three years later I decided that some businesses DO grow better at home. The GREAT EXPECTATION was a wonderful learning experience, but turns out, it wasn't my calling. Back home we came, summer of 2015. We had an outdoor sale of a lot of the equipment and excess merchandise, fixtures, vintage furniture. Some antiques dealers came in early and got stuff for a steal. THEN: one lady stopped by and BOUGHT IT ALL!

After that, I had a cyber yard sale for the Creative Group. Many wanted a little something from the shop. I sold 40 muse boxes. Everyone was happy. I kept my favorite things, so the current workshop is full of memorabilia from that experience. My map chest, the decoupaged central work table, the pegboard on the back wall....you name it. I sit and work among my souvenirs and I smile. I'm not sad that the shop didn't work out for us.

Maybe something else would!

There are ALWAYS more POSSIBILITIES to ponder, and GREAT EXPECTATIONS to be had.

You see, I knew about this guy. Back to the late sixties, he was just out of the service, no job yet, at loose ends. It was Southern California, kind of a cool place to be in those days. He decided he would peddle Mod watches. I think it was Mod watches, anyway! Something like this, maybe:

In time selling watches worked out okay. Turns out, he was selling lots of those watches. As he went about to take care of his accounts, he began to notice the jewelry in the shops. Late sixties jewelry was composed of a lot of chains. This chain, that chain, long chains, multilayered chains. He saw POSSIBILITIES.

So, he and a few other guys got together and started looking for chain, so they could make chain jewelry and become the chain guys. They discovered that they could take raw brass chain, brush it down with black lacquer paint on paint brushes, wipe it off, and antique the brass in a most beguiling way. We'd call that colorization, now. We do it all the time. Well, they were doing it a long time ago!

Since it was lacquer paint, it never came off. The chain finish was stable. It was a great look. They nailed a trend! Soon they were selling as many necklaces as they could make, as fast as they could make them. But.... how did you make a bracelet? How did you make earrings? The guy knew, hey, we need to learn a bunch of stuff and we need to learn it fast or we'll lose this opportunity. The POSSIBILITY.

Fast forward a bit: they really did make it happen as a team, and then he made it happen on his own. His POSSIBILITY became a GREAT EXPECTATION, and then, a REALITY that has lasted well over 45 years. That reality that just happens to be a household word, today: The 1928 Jewelry Company.

Years ago when I was down in my basement hole banging out my big-little line of gift jewelry with my friends, I heard about that guy. I often wondered about him. I actually had even contacted his company back in 1975 because I saw a chain necklace in a magazine that had a pretty bead on it. that I liked. It would work for the bridesmaids in my wedding. They weren't able to help me then.

No 1928 Jewelry at my wedding......but! Yes, indeed I designed that dress. It was based on the dress my Great-Grandmother, Agnes Bittinger Brenneman wore back in 1901. My mother made all the button loops that went all down the back. I can't say she did it with pleasure, but she did it...and she did it with love. (Oh by the way! you should have seen the big Victorian hat I made to go with it. It was something between stroke of genius and hot mess, but I wore it happily as I skipped down the aisle, all of 19 and a half years old......)

As usual, I digress. Continuing: as I made my big-little line of jewelry, I sometimes thought about what I had read about that guy who started 1928. I heard that he started in a garage. I read an interview where they said he didn't wear jewelry and was just all about what needed to be done. A quote from the article (I think it was Los Angeles Times, 1990) was that in the beginning, he was 'trying not to starve'. Somehow I still pictured him there, gluing little bisque roses on stuff just like I was doing. Maybe a hippie kind of guy, or somebody who liked to surf and was just trying to keep it together, making jewelry in between good waves.

What a strange impression to have, moon girl! I already knew his jewelry was in every mall all around the world!

And here I was in my basement selling to hospital gift shops. Here is where HE was working:

A couple of years ago, I got to meet the guy. His name is Mel Bernie. One day he emailed me. My jaw dropped! OMG, I know who this guy is. Then he called me to sell me some stuff, but we ended up tossing around ideas. POSSIBILITIES. I think he respected the fact that I had followed his company, loved his jewelry and actually cared a great deal about it. (Well guess what....LOTS of people do). We also had a lot of mutual shared experiences in business. I learned from him....and he actually learned from me. And it just keeps happening.

Shelley and I went out there last summer. He had been inviting me over and over, and then, he pretty much insisted. I didn't know what he wanted with a little nobody like me. When I was there, I helped him sort some vintage inventory he had and we did some visiting. Things kept clicking. I wasn't there at the factory very long before I felt I belonged there. It kept drawing me in and I really wanted to be a part of what was so compelling, yet still an enigma, to me.

The conversations continued daily after I came home, dumbstruck by life and possibilities. Just like Liza Minelli in Arthur.

The result is what you see there on the poster in my workshop. You probably know that this work spot also serves as my video set? So we have placed that banner there to brand the space for a new GREAT EXPECTATION: B'sue by 1928.

What is B'sue by 1928? For now, it is a curated collection of pieces Mr. Bernie allowed me to select from his vast castings library of over 35,000+ antique jewelry molds. His molds are wonderful, and the pieces he makes with them have incredible detail. Nobody does it better than 1928! Even though he didn't know anything much about jewelry when he began (just like I didn't!), today, that name is synonymous with style, quality and elegance. It is truly TIMELESS.

The pieces he is making for B'sue by 1928 were used in his copyrighted designs for his company, over many years in business. They are unique on their own, but even more so now, because they have B'sue artisan finishes on them. NEVER has the 1928 Company released their design molds so that components could be made for others to use in their own designs. And for sure, NEVER have they EVER had finishes on them like these:

Or this....

Or this:

The gingerbread is almost exactly the color of the old French vintage stampings. Add a little more patina with a gentle touch of black or black/brown acrylic paint, wipe on, wipe off. The Rusted Iron can be distressed to reveal copper underneath. The silver is so rich....and a great match to our silverware silver plated line at B'sue Boutiques Rusted Iron as well as Gingerbread take patina like Swellegant, very nicely.

I was just fiddling with some POSSIBILITIES last night. Found out quick that regular tissue decoupage with lots of resin may not work great on rusted iron pewter...but prob will be fine with gingerbread and raw pewter. We're going to have a lot of fun with the raw pewter, changing it up and making it our own in so many ways.

Necessity being the mother of invention AND new POSSIBILITIES, I will mention that I took that heart with the bad decoupage (above in the necklace design) OFF, fiddled around some more and I came up with something else that looks really good. I'll share it with you when I'm done!

Well.... 1928 is a winner in any form. It is so gracious of Mel Bernie to release these things so now artisans may also design with them. No jewelry company has ever done that....none could! VERY FEW jewelry companies actually MAKE their own findings, so that it could even be possible. Nobody is following the moon here, neither is the moon following them. The castings we have here in our hot little hands are TRIED and TRUE, over 45 five years of screaming successes.

The finishes are tried and true, as well. Anyone who knows B'sue Boutiques knows that I don't tolerate what I call, 'scuse me, 'crap finishes'. I have no place for them in my creative life and neither do you. I want the best.....or I don't want it at all.

There is still much hard work to do, and I need all my energy to get this venture on its feet and MOVING. I am still in POSSIBILITIES and GREAT EXPECTATIONS mode. Soon B'sue by 1928 will feature custom designs unique to this line, and NOT currently in their archives. We intend for there to be new pieces available all the time. The line will grow constantly. You will never be bored with the same old tired pieces.

In a few weeks I am returning to Burbank for more sorting through old stuff for inspiration, checking out more castings, brainstorming new ideas. We will be working at the factory for a full week, and previous to that, Mr. Bernie, Shelley and I will be at CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) in Phoenix, so that he can have a good look at my world and how the crafts industry works.

Great expectations indeed! Too soon for popping corks, my friends.....but if you get a piece of B'sue by 1928 in your hands, you're going to feel a creative buzz from your head to your toes.

Here is the video from last week's introduction, if you haven't seen it yet:

One last thing: Mel Bernie has another passion that is just about as strong as jewelry making. He supports the efforts of his wife, Laurie, and daughter Emily, who run Life Animal Rescue Their mission is to rescue abandoned dogs and cats and place them in loving, forever homes.

They also have a special project of rescuing as many dogs as they can from shelters in Thailand, as well. If you love animals, check out what Laurie and Emily do. You will be very impressed! Check out their Facebook page!

If anyone would like to join us in getting the word out about the class, which commences January 9, 2017......we would really be obliged! THANK YOU

There are still spots left in the class. DO NOT assume the class is filled, 'cuz it isn't, quite! YOU can still come and be a part of this most-excellent exercise. Doesn't matter how new you are to jewelry craft....learning to build cohesively is so important, and the earlier you learn in your journey, the better off you are.

For more information on the class, what to expect, what you'll need to participate and more....

November 13, 2016

The application process for this year's Build a Line Master Challenge Class begins Monday, November 14, 2017. I will accept approximately 35 students into class.

Alumni are welcome to join us again, and this year we have option for a few who are more comfortable auditing the class. I will accept students up until the end of December if we still have openings so if you still need a bit of time to decide, it's fine. The only thing is, the sooner you sign up, the better your chance of having the choice of theme you'd like to do for your project pieces. More about that in the application blog post, and continuing, below.

Are you a hobbyist, a maker....a production designer? Do you work in many types of media? If you do....is there one that speaks your artistic voice louder than the others? Have you found ONE COHESIVE LOOK that identifies you and pulls everything you do together?

Do you sell your work or aspire to sell it? Would you like to sell MORE of your work and see more people wearing the pieces you make?

Do you simply wish to supplement your income, or is it your dream to become a self-supporting artist with a recognizable brand and steady clientele? These are the things you'll uncover if you take the three-month BALC class.

It will commence January 9, 2017 and continue through April 14, 2017. The class is conducted in a special, private Facebook classroom and consists of modules/discussions that address important topics to lead to your discovery and improvement in what you do.

All skill levels are invited to join us...in fact, the 'younger' you are in your journey, the better off you will be. Being young in your journey and taking this class will help you to avoid some of the pitfalls that many of us, myself included, had to work through before learning that less is more, cohesive and pulled together is best. You will also learn why staying lower on the pyramid of sales means growth in income and quicker success.

In class you will create a cohesive five piece prototype line. If you aren't quite sure what cohesive is, check the dictionary....or come to class! We will teach you.

My line from last year speaks my voice as an artist and is cohesive, so I will use it for an example:

As discussed in the post regarding the application, you'll simply write me starting November 9, 2016 at bsue1441@aol.com with

NAME

ADDRESS

PHONE

BLOG NAME AND URL

NAME of the PHOTO EDITING PROGRAM you use and ASSURANCE that you can make a collage, using it

YOUR CHOSEN THEME (see the application post in my blog, just previous to this, for ideas).

Having the working blog with a URL that clicks through and knowledge of the photo editing program are imperative. With out them, you would not be able to participate in this class.

Only two students can use the same theme for your line, so pick several when you write me. Also, please include the PayPal email you use so I can invoice you for the class when accepted. If you would like to pay by credit card, you can let me know when you write, too, and you can call that in when you're accepted to participate.

Class fee is 75.00 alumni, 100.00 new student, and 125.00 for those who wish to audit rather than participate fully. (No more than 3 will be accepted for auditing). Class fee must be received within 48 hours of acceptance.

There will be two blog hops in class. The first will be Friday, February 10, 2017. In this hop you will talk about what you have discovered so far and tell a little about what you plan to accomplish in the class. The second will be March 31, 2017. This is when you will reveal your line.

As soon as you have paid your class fee, you will gain entry to our classroom, which is the same one used last session. All of the modules are there in the FILES section, so you can start reading. You can also scroll back and see some of what we did last year. We will not, however, be discussing modules before class begins, and I reserve the right as instructor to decide in what order they will be discussed.

Since it is online, the classroom is open 24/7. Students should plan on checking in to class at least 4-5 times a week. The class is not in real time, however....so you can fit it in to your schedule as you like. The two blog hops are mandatory to staying in the group and to graduate, or finish the course. If you cannot meet those deadlines, you cannot continue the class. That's pretty firm with me.

Other than that, you can come or not come as often as you like, you can participate or not participate in discussion in class. There is no requirement there. BUT! Like everything worthwhile in life....you'll get out of this what you put into it.

Class materials you will find helpful:

A subscription to Netflix. Don't worry if you don't have it! But there are some wonderful fashion documentaries on Netflix that are more than worth your time. I'll check to see what all is available when we start filling the classroom and make you a list.

A subscription to VOGUE or at least a couple of current copies, the SEPTEMBER ISSUE being the one most important.

A journal or planner with a calendar for notes.

Materials to 'build your line'. You do need to use visible pieces from the B'sue Boutiques website in your work, but you can use ones you already have and you may also fill in with things you may have picked up here and there, so long as you can make a full line.

I will building a line along with the class, but it will be quite unique. First I will be choosing pieces to develop my own proprietary line of findings, which will be pewter castings with special finishes. Later they will be available to others at B'sue Boutiques

After I have enough chosen and made for me, I will develop them into a prototype jewelry line.

I am working with the 1928 Jewelry Company to make this happen, it's a joint project we are developing. So students will get to be privy to this most unique process as well as learn a few new little chestnuts I have picked up from working with Melvyn Bernie, the owner of the company. He is the perfect model for this class, as he began his jewelry making career with nothing at all, not even any knowledge of making jewelry! With focus, determination and a few shekels saved from his meager job as a watch salesman, 1928 Jewelry Company was born in a humble garage in Van Nuys, California....in 1968.

And as they say....the rest is history!

My story is similar to Mr. Bernie's. I began with a 20.00 bill and a whole lot of hope in my heart. Inside of three years I had a 300 piece line of gift jewelry that was sold to 500 gift shops, florists, hospitals, museum shops, catalog houses and small department stores. I continued making my line available for nearly a decade. I'll explain why I quit.....and why Mr. Bernie was able to continue until his jewelry line was known worldwide, worn by many brides, prom and homecoming queens, a gift purchased by many a husband for a wife, or a boyfriend for a girlfriend....collected! and worn to work, too.

There are many lessons the students can learn from both these unique jewelry making experiences.

CLASS PLANS:

Before the FIRST HOP, we'll talk about why we chose our lines and why we think our choice was practical.

I'll ask you to begin doing internet research on current trends in fashion. Think about what sort of clothing would go with the sort of jewelry you plan to design and form into a line. Begin to define your customer....their age, their style, the sort of money they can spend.

We will discuss what it means to be "artistically generous".

The reason for the subscription to VOGUE will be explained in class.

There will be a discussion of jewelry design periods, concentrating on the Golden Age of Jewelry Design (late 40's through early 70's) and successful designers, past and present.

You will be examining your design style by way of making collages of photos of your work and sharing them in class. These collages will not be shared outside this class by me and should not be by you, until our first blog hop.

More information on the first hop in class, again it's February 10, 2017.

After the first hop, we'll talk about whether you feel you are a hobbyist, a maker, or a production designer....and what the difference is. Also, we'll talk about if it even MATTERS!

We will discuss one of a kind designing versus a line of jewelry that can be reprised in production or in limited edition.

We will talk about efficiency and the cost of your time in producing your pieces. And we'll talk about pricepoints. Which sell best? What IS the pyramid of sales? What about pricing your pieces for profit?

Wholesale versus retail....which one is for you?

We will also talk about our design influences and we will share photos of jewelry made by contemporary designers or artisan makers that we admire.

Heading into the home stretch in March, we'll talk about the importance of a good schedule and productive channeling of energies. We will talk about deadlines, inventory management, and custom work.

Very important will be the discussion of developing your personal brand via good photos, marketing, blogging and packaging. Some of our alumni rejoining us this year have done a brilliant job of that and will be happy to share with you their progress as well as their thought process in developing packaging, brochures, signage, etc.

We will talk about why you should regularly BLOG, and why a social media promotion schedule is so important. And, we will discuss garnering return business, the power of lagniappe, and making each customer feel important.

The final blog hop is FRIDAY, March 31....and that is when we will reveal our lines.

Within a week after class finishes, a team of judges formed by alumni of this class and myself, will determine who hit the marks best. There will be a winner and a runner up. The runner up gets a 50.00 gift certificate to B'sue Boutiques, and the winner gets a 100.00 certificate, plus the privilege of joining us for the next year's class for FREE.

Last year's winner was Erin Whitacre and I do believe she is excited to be with us again this year. In fact, if she makes it, it will mean she has attended ALL of the Build a Line classes so far!

In summing up, we will talk about what we learned and where we hope to sell our lines. We will talk about if we will continue the line from class and grow it, or start a new one....or do both!

After final discussions, all who complete the course, or graduate! will be moved from the classroom to the alumni group where everyone else who has finished the course is waiting to congratulate you.....and continue the discussion among peers. The class modules are also housed at the Alumni group so you will always have access to them. It will be like the little class that never quit!

I hope to see your application in my bsue1441@aol.com email box tomorrow! There must be 25 students for me to present the class, but if past years are any indication, I think we will be okay. ;-)

November 09, 2016

As time goes on, all jewelry makers become acutely aware of the need to pull in and tighten up. They must progress and learn to brand their work by making it recognizable. They need to think hard about who their key customer is and what that customer would want....and how they can provide that for them. That goes not only to the work itself but the way we present our work.

This is why once a year for three months, I present the BUILD A LINE MASTER CHALLENGE CLASS. Via this class you will discover there may well be new and better ways to make money with your jewelry design, than what you are currently doing.

You don't necessarily have to stop doing the repurposing thing or the one of a kind thing.

BUT! you may need to become more cohesive in your work, understand your inventory better and also, explore the possibilities of being able to reproduce a few of the things you make. If you can learn to do that, you will make more money for the time you spend, and you will grow your brand.

I know how to do this because I DID do it. I had a line of jewelry that was sold nationally to approximately 500 accounts in the 90's, for the better part of a decade. The line was handmade, and I used the same supplies then ---that I sell, now. We grew rapidly and we stayed in the black.

Somehow in my gut, I got the concept of building a line. No one taught me how. I had my hits and I had my misses.....If I was do what I did then, again, today....there is not a whole lot I'd change except the misses! Amazingly, I find that all of the principles still apply.

The badge above is from last year and shortly we'll have a new one for the 2017 class. Sign ups will commence Monday, November 14, 2016. I hope to have 35 active participants in the class, although I will conduct it if there are only 25. Usually we fill the class fairly quickly, but this year I will take applications up until a week before class begins on January 9, 2017.

Also joining us for class will be last year's best in class winner, Erin Whitacre. A few alumni from previous years will be serving as judges, monitors, mentors and admins for the class. Those serving as such will only speak in class on select "Judges Weekends". The rest of the time they will be silent. They will not be participating in the day to day activities or required blog hops, but they will be reading along.

Last year I created a line along with the students, which you see in the first photo. THIS YEAR: I will be pulling together a line of proprietary findings, which is a whole different animal! Students will get to be privy to that process as well as offer their opinions on choices for the line.

TO APPLY FOR THE CLASS:

1. The class will start January 9 and go through April 12, 2017. There will be two blog hops, February 10, 2017 and March 31, 2017. Previously there were three but we've cut that back to allow more time for students to work on their lines without having to meet that extra deadline. SO: because we have blog hops as part of the class exercise, YOU MUST HAVE A WORKING, FUNCTIONING BLOG when you apply for the class.

The hops may NOT be missed. They are vital to the class. Sadly, if you do not participate in the hops, you will not be allowed to continue the class.

2. You must also have simple knowledge of a photo editing program like PicMonkey, Picassa or even some forms of Photoshop. I use PicMonkey, it is so simple and intuitive, there are tutorials in the program and it's made for 'dummies'. You must know how to make a photo collage for the class as we use the collages as tools in our studies.

3. You must choose a theme. I will not accept more than two students with the same sort of theme. So when you apply, choose three if possible, so if yours is taken, you can do something different.

Only FIVE prototype jewelry items made in that theme AS A LINE must be made. Some make far more, that's up to them, we love to see them all. But you only HAVE to do FIVE. They must ALL be made inside your theme, in a cohesive way. You will learn more about that in class.

4. You do have to use some items from http://www.bsueboutiques.com B'sue Boutiques, the sponsoring website, in your work. It doesn't have to be all B'sue down to the last jump ring, but you must include visible pieces. They can be pieces you already own and have ready in your workshop or they can be new ones you might want to purchase. You will be invited to use your own special skills or techniques to make your line, there are no restrictions on the techniques you use.

Your use of our product is one of the reasons why a three-month master class that demands a great deal of my attention can be offered for so little. Similar classes elsewhere would cost 3 or 4 times as much.

5. Class fee is 100.00 for new students, 75.00 for alumni who would like to repeat. Payment can be by PayPal or by credit card. If you want to use a credit card to pay for the class, please tell me in your application so that arrangements can be made to get your payment. Otherwise, please provide the email you use at PayPal to make billing you efficient. All fees must be paid within 48 hours of acceptance.

There is a new provision this year as well. Some folks are really interested in this process but are worried their schedules may not permit them to make the deadlines, or just don't feel they can get a blog ready right now.

I will accept three auditing students for the class this year. These students will be put into our virtual classroom at Facebook and be allowed to view all the class chapters or modules. They will be able to see all the feed and observe the process. They will not participate in the exercises and they will not be permitted to speak in class or ask questions in class. They will be completely silent. The charge to audit is 125.00. I am charging more because truly, this class is nothing without active participants. So if you are not going to participate fully, you will need to pay the 125.00 fee.

Think outside the box and see what you come up with. It's great to make pretty, eye-catching jewelry, but when you do that and it has a theme/purpose as well it almost always sells better.

For help, explore some of the themes people are using in their Etsy shops!

This is a theme done last year by Erin Whitacre:

And a theme done by Marica Zammit:

Just a few of Marcia Tuzzolino's Bloomin' Tulips:

Hopefully those visuals get the ideas flowing.

I don't have this year's syllabus written yet, but you might like to review last year's. Just remember, this year we are only doing two blog hops and the curriculum will contain a few extra modules to consider, and be more refined.

Once you are accepted to the class...and I will let you know quickly! You will make your payment and then I will go ahead and place you in the Build a Line virtual classroom at Facebook. You will be able to use the time before class begins to scroll back through the feed from last year. That way you will get quite a look at how things move along. Also, the current modules are stored there in the FILES section. Some will be revised before we do them in class, but you can read ahead a little.

One point I must make about the modules in class: they are for your use ONLY, they may not be copied by link and shared elsewhere on the internet. The material is all copyrighted material. You may, however, print them out to put in your own personal journal.

AND! there's a BIG benefit to graduating from this class: Upon closure of each year's class, everyone who finishes the class work will be placed in a special ALUMNI group. This is a tiny group of folks who have already taken the class. Our discussions continue casually, there. And, all the modules are also housed at this group. Right now there are only about 77 members, but all have taken the class.

October 23, 2016

It's so HARD to get organized to get anything done! So many of us have piles of things we have ordered, or have begun to move around in our work space.

And alas, nothing is happening yet. That includes MY work space!

Work Table Wednesday is part true confessions, a bit of hey look what I got here!, and of course, new ideas/possibilities.

I think that just photographing the mess on your bench and sharing it, is a bit cathartic. It's also motivating! Once you have shown the world all the cool stuff you have to work with, you probably will organize the space into projects and start on something.

And that is why, for the last couple of years now---at least!---every Wednesday is WORK TABLE WEDNESDAY at our group.

Here are some pix of some recent tables. Some are already organized into projects and some are just components everywhere with a loose idea or theme going on. Here is Shari Gardner's table. Shari always has bunches of new ideas!

And a table like Shari's is very typical for many of us, by the way.

Here is one of Allison Murray's. Another typical table, but I can promise you something wonderful came off that pile by the weekend. It almost always does.

Allison and Shari have both commented from time to time how WTW, as we call it, is a real help for organizing thoughts and plans.

Here's a table from Leila Belcher:

Wonderful things DID come from that table, and in short order, too. You can see the beginnings of this necklace on her WTW photo, off to the far right.

On the other hand.....

Some tables are spare and organized and you can get an idea of what is going to happen. This is very true of Joan Williams' table, below.

Also true of Chris Kemp's:

Everyone enjoys posting their WTW pictures on Wednesdays at the Creative Group As a rule we have 20-35 people play along on any given week. Any one who is a member of the Group, which is at Facebook, is welcome to post a photo of their table.

They may also be granted PINNING rights for their tables, as we have a special PINTEREST board, just for them:

There are a few requirements to be allowed to pin at the group board. As mentioned, you need to be a Group member. Then, you must have focal-type components from B'sue Boutiques featured somewhere on your table. You can also have your own things you have collected, on your board. Does NOT have to be all B'sue. Just SOME.

To have pinning rights at our Group Board at Pinterest for WTW, you need to be following me:

And then, I have to be following you! So please send me by private message at Facebook, your URL (internet address that appears in your browser bar when you go to your own Pinterest boards). That way I will go right ahead, follow you and then put you right on. Please remember to be following me first before you send me your info, as it makes it really fast to get you on that way.

After that, every Wednesday YOU may pin to the board. Please date your photos, as we get a count by the dates. It's also not a bad idea to watermark them if possible. If not, be SURE you put your name in the description so that I will know the photo is yours.

THEN: EVERY THURSDAY MORNING at the Creative Group, you will see a notice announced with this image:

When you see this image at the Group, 99.9% of the time it means one of our members has WON SOMETHING. Yes, every Thursday I count all the entries and use the random number generator at

B'sue Boutiques! No two gifties are ever the same and they are usually a good 50.00 worth of THE GOOD STUFF.... which is what we sell at our website.

So there you have it....THAT is what WTW is all about! Come and join us!

Thanks to Jann Tague, who made our WTW badge for us.

She is part of the B'sue Boutiques Project Development Team, whose members design our events and our bi-monthly challenges. Marcia Tuzzolino and Irene Hoffman along with Jann all work very hard to make our Group an encouraging, creative place!

September 08, 2016

The Ebony Black color palette is pure drama. Rich with several shades of cream, chocolate and taupe can be used on the base matte black color. We have a full selection of beautiful matte black brass and vintage jewelry findings and other vintage supplies at B'sue Boutiques from which to select your key focals for your designs! Get ready to create!

To participate and perhaps win the randomly-chosen giftie package chock-full of B'sue goodies, you will need to use at least two of the five colors against your selection of matte black brass. If you already have some matte black focals and pieces that would remain visible in your design that come from our place, go ahead and use them. If you need any, you'll find a nice selection at the website.

We need 30-50 B'sue Boutiques Creative Group members to participate in our challenge. Our color palette challenges last for TWO months.....so you have until October 31st to share your design at the Creative Group at Facebook and pin it to our Challenges Board

On November 1, the winner will be announced by Project Development Team member, Irene Hoffman of Heart's Dezire. And then, I will pull out some lovely goodies and ship 'em on out for ya!

I can't wait to begin working with that combination of colors, myself!

Here is something to inspire you for this challenge, made by Allison Murray of Bordeaux and Pearl:

You might wonder, what is the Project Development Team at B'sue Boutiques all about, anyway?

Isn't that something new?

Yes it is, a bit. Previously we had a DESIGN TEAM at B'sue Boutiques with many talented artists. But, with all the work of daily business here, I was having a bit of trouble co-ordinating projects and finding just the right thing for Design Team members to do. Marcia Tuzzolino, Jann Tague and Irene Hoffman have for some time been very key in assisting me with color ideas as well as filling in for me when I was away on a business trip, engaging the group and keeping all the creative balls in the air!

They also live close to one another and even meet on a regular basis to try new techniques and brainstorm ideas. Naturally it made sense to create the PROJECT DEVELOPMENT TEAM using the talents of these three jewelry artists who have great design backgrounds.

You can read more about them and The Friends of B'sue Boutiques at our website. Everyone on that page is someone who has been key to the evolution of the B'sue Boutiques website as well as the Creative Group on Facebook over the last 3-5 years. Each one is a blessing in their own way and I am grateful for the networking we do together.

Meantime.....we wrapped up the Choxie Color Challenge by announcing the winner Tuesday, September 6. The winner was Shari Gardner!

July 14, 2016

It's easy to begin to think that our creative path is just all leading downhill, especially when things get slow in the summertime. Easy to think that way, not necessarily true.

It's probably really going forward....incrementally. The trick is to get it going in a straight line.....

Instead of broken up in chunks:

When we reach the slower summer months---or for some, should I say, busy summer months? It may be difficult to keep focused and maintain momentum as makers of handmade jewelry. It can be particularly discouraging and hard to keep moving when sales slow to what seems a standstill.

WHAT HAPPENED?

There may be quite a number of reasons beyond economics why sales of your handmades slow down---in any season.

And while we talk about WHY, let's remember:

That's number one, most of all, when taking a step back and examining what's going on. A good attitude! Being positive! Our desire is to CONTINUE, not quit!

Here and there an examination of our business plans and habits is quite important. SO: be brave, and face what you're doing in the eye, stare the monster down. Be determined to be objective and do the work, if work needs to be done.

This is a list of what works for me. Maybe it will help you, too!

1. Run away to the mall. ????? Are you kidding me, a lover and maker of handmade jewelry, off to the mall?

Yes my dear, yes indeed. GO TO THE MALL. Go into all the specialty stores that carry accessories. Check out what they carry, and stop to have a good, good look. Chat up the clerks. Usually earlier in the week in the summertime, mall clerks aren't busy, either, and will be glad to strike up a conversation on trend.

One shop I enjoy checking out is Gracy Lane. You may find that you have one in your mall, it's a chain, a small boutique shop that shows only jewelry and accessories. Key lines are Vera Bradley, Swarovski, Alex and Ani, Brighton.....among other smaller names about which you may not yet have heard.

I hear you from here saying YEEECH. Yes, that would be a typical reaction from handmade designers. But, just give me a listen and let's be very objective:

Did you hear me say, "smaller names about which you may not yet have heard"?

Those smaller names are possibly designers who started out on lap desks and kitchen tables just like you and I did. Ever hear of Carolee jewelry? It's a big name, started in the early 70's. You won't find it in Gracy Lane because it's an upscale department store/bridal shop line these days, all about the glass pearls. But it was started on a kitchen table.

Another line you know, 1928 Jewelry Company, started in a guy's garage.

So yeah.....there's something to consider there.

WHY are those lines selling? WHY do they appear in so many outlets?

While the department store jewelry business is on a bit of a downswing, the specialty shop business is NOT. What IS there about a line like Pandora, or Troll Beads that gets them buying that overpriced product time and time again? Why do people spend so much money on ooodles of antique silver Brighton bangles? Why is Alex and Ani still so hot? You'd think that it would have had its day. IT HAS NOT.

The line continues to expand with more and more new gimmicks, personalizations, charms that speak about people and their interests. ANY of us can and probably have made Alex and Ani style bangles, sheesh, I carry the components (the expandable wire bracelet as well as oodles of workable charms) at B'sue Boutiques

After you make your run through the mall (snap a few pix with your phone camera if you can sneak it in, usually they don't mind, you can say you are snapping them to remember where you found them. That's true, you're doing research!) ....go grab yourself the prerequisite mall Gloria Jean's or Starbuck's coffee, sit down at a table with a little notebook journal you should have put in your purse for notes....and your trusty pen.

Begin to write. Which lines jumped out at you? What did you learn? Hey, don't turn your brain off here because they are jewelry lines sold in a mall. ****People are buying them.**** You need to think about why, because there are points there that DO apply to you.

ALSO: take notice of the median prices. Best selling jewelry usually sells in the 22.00-55.00 sweet spot. Watch out for that as you schmooze through the shops.

Can you sell your jewelry in that sweet spot?

Keep writing in your notes.....

WHEN LOOKERS BECOME BUYERS

2. What is the gimmick, what is the thing that touches the heart, what is the oooh-la-la moment that gets someone to say, yeah, I'll fork over for that mall jewelry?

One is branding. How is YOUR brand doing? Have you pulled it together yet? Do you know what branding is and how important it is for your handmade business?

Branding is not just for big companies with major fundage. All businesses that want recognition on ANY level need branding. This means:

a logo

custom url or domain for your selling spot on line

packaging

business cards

Facebook business page

Pinterest boards

promotionals....print or online

If any of those branding points are remiss, time to see what you can do to shore them up. Personally, I need to work on my Pinterest boards. What do YOU need to work on? Great time to do it when business is slower.

Branding gives you not only recognition but cred (credulity, a sense of buying something of quality and worth the money spent).

THEN: think about this: when you make orders with your suppliers, what catches your eye as far as new products are concerned? New design elements, plating finishes, mixed media products, beads, COLORS? What? What makes YOU buy THOSE things?

It's gonna be basically very similar to what makes people buy that jewelry....or YOUR handmade jewelry. Really, it is. So go have a look, do the research, think deep and identify it. What does that jewelry have that yours doesn't?

ARTISTIC GENEROSITY

3. When YOU are the designer, there is one big truth that holds the floor if you desire to sell your work. While you may choose the style that represents you, that speaks to you as an artist...contemporary, retro, vintage, Boho, etc....it's gotta be a design that people besides you will want to purchase, at a price they can pay.

You may sell a few pieces of work that you made just to please yourself, but if you truly want to make a go at this, you cannot simply please yourself. You will need to discover that delicate intersection in your design life that satisfies you as an artist, but also reaches out to your customer. This is called ARTISTIC GENEROSITY.

When you look at your jewelry listings ask yourself: who is my customer, what is their budget, are they buying my stuff to go with clothing, is it a gift, or does what I make have collectable quality?

Does my work have a cohesive quality? Do I ever repeat a piece in a number of colors?

I would encourage you to stop and take a look at the way she has branded her shop, put her line together, how it has been promoted. The line has fashion elements but works beautifully as a gift line. Many gift lines are timeless and work across the entire year, because everyone needs a gift....all the time. The whole world seems to revolve around events and holidays. Have you considered that in the way you have put your line together?

I loved this online promotion ( I believe it was sometime around Valentine's Day) that Lori crafted:

Check out the feedback Lori gets and how many mention the gift factor.

Check out her professionalism and branding.....and how the look all comes together across all of her categories in her store.

Check out how many sales she has made! This is all throughout the year, not just at the holidays. You can have a similar success doing what you love, by aiming it toward the gifting market, carefully considering color, and making lovely, wearable pieces of quality materials at reasonable prices.

IT'S NOT TIME TO SIT BACK WITH THE REMOTE AND WATCH NETFLIX....

Unless you stream it into your workspace and are making jewelry at the same time.

4. STAY BUSY. Examine your inventory. Is it looking tired, old, picked over? Maybe it's time to take new pictures, not necessarily have a sale. New pictures bring new life to tired pieces that have been hanging around.

Maybe it's time to take some of those pieces down and re-design them! Here's a video that might help you get your head around that idea:

Just yesterday I was looking at a hopper full of jewelry that I made for video projects, etc. I found this piece:

I had it on my Ruby Lane shop as well as my Etsy shop, when I had them up. No one bought it. Now it's time to step back and figure out why. Too much stuff on it? Too heavy? Too many techniques going on? We all have pieces like these that need reworking.

OH, I'M SO DEPRESSED.....WHAT'S THE POINT?

Come on now! Consider the time and money you have into this already! And you know what pleasure designing gives you.

5. CONTINUE CREATING. Just because it's slow NOW, does not mean it will be slow later. How many times do we miss the boat because we were not ready for the offer of a new selling platform/possibility, custom order, or just a busier season? I can tell you, if you have you are not alone. It has happened to me too many heartbreaking times!

I have learned that when it is slow, then it's time to check inventory, restock needed pieces, come up with new design work, and pull what you doing together. As long as a business has inventory, it is never dead in the water; as long as a handmade business has quality, imaginative components to use to make new stock, it's still in the running.

Even though thegarden needs to be weeded and you've got three weddings and a bunch of grad parties still to attend this summer, doesn't mean you should not have budgeted, dedicated time to make new stock, learn a new technique, and organize your workspace.

This video that JewelryDonna and I made a few months back about managing your supply inventory might come in handy:

CONSIDER NEW SELLING PLATFORMS and OPPORTUNITIES

There are many ways to sell your handmade designer jewelry. You may want to consider new consignment opportunities. Get online and find out what shows within driving distance might work, for what you do. What about home parties, trunk shows, and open houses?

Facebook groups are a great way to network with other sellers for new ideas, resources and encouragement. Find the best groups to join that suit YOUR personal needs. Narrow it down to the type of jewelry you make and what you want to do. If you belong to every group for the latest new component, idea, technique, destash, you will soon find that all you do is truck back and forth between groups all day and very little will be accomplished. You may even find yourself feeling overwhelmed and confused.

The worst part? at the end of the day....nothing accomplished.

It happens to me, too, guys.

I've found that I need to start each day with a good list of the major stuff that has to happen. While I do have a bit of trouble finding enough time to create because I am managing a supply business, doing a lot of writing and usually teaching or planning to teach an online class....I do get all of the most important things taken care of, each day.

I'm able to get things finished because of the priorities on the list. While I may have Facebook and other social media screens open all day, I am not necessarily spending time there. Leaving the screens open serves as notice for me so that I will not be long in responding to someone who needs assistance. It can be a distraction but I am beginning to train myself to keep it in its place.

I do like to spend a bit of time attending to my groups and pages each day and I do allot a certain amount of time for that. YOU SHOULD, TOO. But: unless there is a specific reason, I try to stay well within the time frame I allow for social media. I love to visit as much as anyone but, if I am going to get anything done, I can only spend just so much time there. Do your promoting first, then check your groups and friends. ;-)

JUST STAY BUSY

6. IN SUMMARY: J.S.B. JUST STAY BUSY! Slower times really don't indicate you have time on your hands when you are running a business. There is ALWAYS work to do.

My husband is a head custodian in a very large inner-city school system. His busiest time of the year is in the summer, when summer school is over and there are no students in the building. This is the time of year when desks are repaired, floors are stripped and waxed, restrooms refurbished, painting is done. He and his team are busier this time of the year than EVER, in preparation for the next school year.

We should be, as well. Our best selling season of the entire year will be here before you know it!

SO! Keep that great attitude....step back and have an honest look....do a bit of rethinking, even redesigning.....rework your keywords, promotion and branding! There is no time to lose. J.S.B. Just stay busy and you will be ready when the next opportunity comes.

July 04, 2016

Have you tried it yet? If not.....why not join us for the July/August summer palette challenge.....using chocolate brass and these HOT

hot-cha-cha colors!

The palette was chosen by my Idea Girls, Marcia Tuzzolino, Jann Tague and Irene Hoffman. It's a great look, festive, can't you just hear the mariachi music and smell the enchiladas in the oven and the fajitas on the grill?

And the fact is, these are good, clear colors that can be worn in some form by just about EVERYONE. Paired with the chocolate brass, it's just a winner all the way down the line.

How can you be part of the challenge? Well, this year, we have decided that all our challenges will be TWO months long, and will be based on a plating shade and a color palette that enhances it. The Idea Girls will mull and choose the palettes along with a little input from me....

And the rest will be easy! Time to gather materials from B'sue Boutiques .....my supply company which sponsors the challenges....and see what you have stashed away that will work. We're not telling you what sort of jewelry to make, just make something that you think works well with the way the colors MAKE YOU FEEL. Any sort of jewelry, any technique is fine, so long as it contains a few visible things from our place, and our chocolate brass. Although we've just recently brought it back, we carried it for some time before in the past, so it's likely that many have pieces put aside in their workshops, too.

Start pulling out those bits and pieces, this challenge is gonna be SO much fun!

The only type of jewelry that won't qualify for inclusion on our challenge board is a single pair of earrings......if you have made a pair that look great, we'll need you to pair them up with a brooch, a bracelet, a necklace, a ring....something.

That palette is tailor made for the Lil Ruby design style! So pretty....

So come on over and dive into a pile of choxie brass! And join us for this fun summer challenge. At the beginning of September, I'll post a randomly-drawn winner for this one; I would LOVE to see a BUNCH of participation. If we get 50 or more submissions, I will draw TWO giftie winners!

June 21, 2016

Originally used in the clothing industry much like one would use sequins or other trims, rose montees were often found sewn onto dress collars or decorated sweaters of the 40's and 50's. Then someone out there found that HEY, they were a great addition to a wire collage, or a caged piece.

You will often find them in Miriam Haskell vintage jewelry pieces.

They don't look like much, but they really make a design sparkle. Below you see 4mm Czech Preciosa machine cut rose montees, prong-set in little tin mounts. On the back of the mount, you will observe that there is a little cross hatch pass-through. This is where you will wire them into your design.

I use 28 gauge gold plated wire....or whatever color wire matches the filigree I am using. You don't HAVE to do your caging on Russian Gold Plated brass....that's just the typical, true-to-vintage plating shade for this type of work. Think outside the box! Might look GREAT on matte black....chocolate brass....or even brass ox. OR: think about the possibilities of doing this sort of work with raw brass pieces you have colorized with Lumiere Paints by Jacquard, or even patina'd with Swellegant.

The trick is the wiring in.

With some filigree that has nice-sized openings, it will be fairly simple once you've got the hang of it. For little pieces like flower sprigs, it takes a bit of fiddly-fussing!

If you would like a demonstration, you have only to 'tune in' to this video:

I will show you a number of things you can do with them, as well as wiring on small pearls.

The big trick is to get as little wire as possible showing, and keep the work good and tight.

On the piece above where I did the pearls, you can only hope for so much where not showing wire is concerned. You're passing through a hole on a dimensional object!

That is where fill will come in. More pearls, seed beads looping around and over, a nice central focal and maybe some wired in sprigs will hide that.

I did get the piece at the beginning of the video finished:

Something else you might want to know is how I mounted the Art Nouveau lady medallion. Follow the series of photos, below:

Both pieces are found in the Russian Gold Plated Brass section at B'sue Boutiques When you are short a piece in Russian Gold Plate, sometimes a piece of unplated raw brass will work okay.

You would just place that and wire through the back to attach to your 'builder' filigree.

Here is the back of my finished piece:

Still a little more wire showing than I would like, but all in all....it's coming along nicely.

If you would like to have some fun with Russian Gold Plated Brass, I have a little muse package on my website for you:

Russian Gold Plated Muse It's a bit discounted and you have builder and backer pieces, as well as pieces to use your imagination.

All you need is some 28 gauge gold plated wire....we have some if you don't!